Pulse actuated switch



00L 8, 1935. LIBERSON 2,017,006

PULSE ACTUATED swmcn Filed July 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iz'mzr .56ill/5M NVENTOR WITNESSES [7-4/2 L aha/$022 Ww hf Q ATTORNEY Oct. 8,1935.

F. LIBERSON PULSE ACTUATED SWITCH Filed July 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1INVENTOR 161M [256/ 5072 WITNESSES 54 9% m ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 8,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PULSE ACTUATED SWITCH Frank Libel-son,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1934, Serial No. 733,878

4 Claims. (01. 200-83) This invention relates toapulse actuated devicethe X-ray machine C is an old and well known and particularly to adevice which includes a device and at present it has been developed soswitch for closing an electrical circuit whereby that pictures of theheart or other part of the certain auxiliary devices may be setintomotion, body may be taken at their highest speed, for

the object being to provide a construction whereinstance, with anexposure of one-twentieth of a 5 in the auxiliary devices may be setinto motion at second. The circuit and associated parts are any phase ofthe heart beat of a person. well known devices, but for the sake ofclearness Another object of the invention is to proit may be stated thatthe wires or conductors I vide an improved pulse actuated switch whereinand 2 are supply wires supplying current at a J the parts may be set tobe actuated at the begindesired voltage, for instance, 110 A. C. Currentis 10 ning, the end, or any intermediate point of a supplied to thetransformer 3 which steps up the pulse beat. voltage to a. desiredextent so that the desired A further object of the present invention isto voltage may be pressed on the circuit 4. In provide a device of thecharacter described whereorder to limit the time exposure a timingswitch in the circuit is closed through means actuated by 5 ispreferably used in the circuit 6 and is set to 15 a movement of thepulse, the circuit being operthe desired time, for instance,one-twentieth of a ably connected with a secondary circuit fortaksecond. However, if preferred, instead of using ing X-ray pictures incertain timed relation to the the timing switch 5 which is an old andwell known heart beat. device, a hand switch could be substituted. The

A further object, more specifically, is to procircuit 6 includes anadjustable contact 'I coact- 20 vide an improved pulse actuated deviceoperably ing with the swinging contact 8, which is held associated withan X-ray photographic device by spring 9 normally against the stop I0.whereby photographs of the heart may be taken at When the electro-magnetI I is energized it will any point between the maximum and minimum acton the swinging contact 8 which is of magbeat of the heart. neticmaterial and which when attracted by the 25 In the accompanying drawingsmagnet I I will swing over and engage the contact Figure 1 is a viewpartly in side elevation and 1 against the action of the spring 9. Aslong as partly in diagram, illustrating an embodiment of the magnet I Iis energized the circuit 6 will rethe invention; main closed as far asswitch mechanism B is con- Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure1' cerned, but may be opened by the timing switch 5. 30 on the line 22;As a matter of fact, when using the device the Figure 3 is a top planview of a slightly moditiming switch opens the circuit 6 long before thefied' construction to that illustrated at the upper swinging contact 8is released.

part of Fig. 1; As illustrated particularly in Fig. 1, one side Figure 4is a sectional view through Figure 3 of the coil II is connected by wireI2 to one side 35 on the line i4; of the battery or other source ofcurrent I3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a modified The conductor I4 isconnected with the other structure to that illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4,the terminal of the electro-magnet I I and extends to section beingtaken on the line 55 of Fig. 6; the contact if, the manually actuatedswitch I6 40 Figure 6 is a top plan view of the pulse actuated beingpreferably interposed in line. A conductor 40 switch shown in Fig. 5. II extends from battery l3 to the contact I8 which Referring to theaccompanying drawings by is supported upon an arm IE! but insulatedtherereference characters, A indicates an assemblage from. The contactI8 is provided with an upadapted to be applied to the arm, leg or otherpart standing flange 2i! having a pivotal pin 2| carof a persons bodyand utilized to transmit the r d y the w t arm 22, which armispreferably 45 movement of the pulse so as to actuate a switch. p v Witht turned p end thou h this is Associated with the assemblage A is anelectronot necessary. A comparatively light fiat spring magnet switch Bwhich is in the nature of a relay 24 acts on the switch arm 22 fornormally holdused in closing the circuit of the X-ray machine C. ing thesame lowered, whereby the upper end This machine is to be used in anydesired manmay rest upon the insulation 25, which insulation 50 ner butparticularly in taking X-ray pictures of supports the contact at I5. Thearm I9 is rigidly the human heart, though it may take pictures ofsecured to or formed identical with the tubular other parts of the bodyor be used for other p'urmember 26 which member is slidingly mountedposes without departing from the spirit of the on the post 21, said postbeing rigidly secured to 65 invention. It will be understood, however,that the frame 28. Post 21 on the upper part is threaded for receiving anut 29. A spring 3!) sur rounds the lower part of the post 21 and actsto raise the tubular member 25 and arm 9 while the nut 29 acts to holdthese parts down, or to move them down, in order to secure the desiredadjustment of the switch arm 22 in respect to the elevating arm 3| whichis bolted or otherwise rigidly secured in place. As illustrated in mg. 2the bolt 32 extends through an aperture in the arm 3 I, through theplates 33 and 34, and through the dome 35 of the flexible bag 36. Theframe 28 is preferably made in two parts, each part having flat sections3! and 38 and a semi-tubular section 39. The semi tubular sections 39 ofthe respective plates substantially surround the dome 35 approximatelymidway of the height and clamps the dome 35 against the ring 45 arrangedinteriorly thereof.

Preferably the frame 28 and ring 40 are formed of metal, though othercomparatively rigid materials might be used. The bag 36 may be made fromrubber or other flexible or stretchable material which will hold air.When the air pressure increases in the bag 36 it will also increase inthe dome 35, and as the central and lower part of the dome are heldagainst expansion, as well as the bag 36, the upper side portions andupper part of the dome will expand upwardly and move the arm 3| upwardlyuntil it strikes the arm 22 and raises this arm against the action ofthe spring 2|. By adjusting the screw 29 the arm 22 may be positioned tocause the arm 22 to move upwardly and strike the contact |5 at thebeginning of a heart beat, the end of a heart beat, Or any intermediatepoint. While the end portions 4| and 42 of the bag 36 may expandsomewhat, it is preferable that this part oi the bag be slightly heavierthan the upper part of the dome, so that the most movement will be inthe dome to secure the results above mentioned, though the device wouldoperate if all the walls of the bag were of the same thickness, as themovement of the upper part of the dome meets the least resist-- aneewhen the device is in use.

It will be observed that the bag 35 is adapted to encircle the arm, legor other part of the body and is prevented from expanding outwardly bythe casing 43 which may be of metal or other desired material, and whichis formed in several parts, namely, an upper base section 44 and sidehinged sections 45 and 46. These latter sections are hinged at 4'! and48 to the base section 44 whereby they may be swung upwardly as shown inFig, 2 and out of the way when the bag 36 is to be fitted around the armor other part of the body of the patient. It will be noted that the end32 of bag 36 is provided with a flexible member 49 which acts as a flapand extends from the upper part of the bag near the end 42, over theinner part of the bag near the end 4|, so that the parts may be neatlyfitted around the arm. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the side section 45 isprovided with a laterally extending flange 50, while the base 44 isprovided with a flange 5|, which flange is provided with an elongatedhousing 52 carrying the sliding catches 53 and 54, as shown in Fig. l.The housing 52 is provided with a slot 55 through which the respectivepins 56 extend. In order that the catches 53 and 54 may be moved towardeach other a spring 5'! is arranged between the catches and continuallyurges the same away from each other so that the respective outer endsmay project into the racks 5B and 59, which extend through suitableapertures 60 in the flame BI and the housing 52. The

same racks at theopposite end are rounded and provided with threads 6|and 62 which extend loosely through the apertures 63 and 54 in flange50, whereby the nuts 65 and 66 may be actuated to cause a pulling actionbetween the flange 50 and flange 5| in order to press the bag tightlyagainst the arm or other part of the body over which it is positioned.Preferably these flanges are brought as closely as possible together bymanipulating the same by hand, and then to se cure additional pressurethe nuts 55 and 56 are operated.

It will be understood that the bag 36 is a completely closed bag and hascontinually an air or gas pressure therein. This pressure is broughtunder some tension when the parts are moved to the position shown inFigs. 1 and 2. If it is desired to bring the air under greater tensionso as to raise the arm 3|, the screws 65 and B6 are actuated thusbringing the air under greater U tension. After the parts have beentightly pressed against the arm or other part of the body. the pulse inthat part of the body will immediately function to cause a variation inthe density of the air in the bag 36 and thereby cause the upper part ofthe dome 35 to move upwardly and downwardly.

By adjusting the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, for instance,the switch arm 22 is an appreciable distance above the elevating arm 3|.When in this position the device is set to operate at the maximum pulsebeat. As the pulse rises the eleva ing arm 3| will rise and engage theswitch arm 22 and raise the same until the end 23 engages the contactl5. In case it should be desired to cause the switch arm 22 to functionat the begining of the pulse movement, the nut 29 is screwed down untilthe switch arm 22 is substantially in contact with the elevating arm 3|,whereby upon movement of the pulse the switch arm 22 will function andclose the circuit heretofore described. In this way the X-ray device Cmay be caused to function and take a picture at the beginning of thepulse or at the end of the pulse. By adjusting the screw 29 to someintermediate position, for instance, where the heart is half expanded,photographs of the heart may be taken at that stage of expansion. Anyother intermediate position may be taken by properly adjusting theparts.

While this adjustment is being made the switch It is left open as allthe other parts are set to instantly take the photograph. As soon as thedesired adjustment has been made to take a picture at the beginning, endor some intermediate point of the pulse, the switch I6 is closed and thepicture wil be taken almost instantly. For the purpose of comparisonthis is extremely desirable as a picture may be taken at a certain stageof the heart beat, and then placed away until some future time, whenanother picture may be taken at the same stage of expansion, and bycomparison it can be readily ascertained whether or not the heart isenlarged.

While the forms shown in Figs. 1 and are preferable, other forms of thesame inventive concept may be used as, for instance, that shown in Figs.3 to 6, inclusive. In Figs. 3 and 4 the usual inflatable rubber bag 61is used, the same being provided with the usual bulb pump 68 and valve69. The bag 61 is of the usual construction except that it is providedwith a dome 10 having a partly rounded upper end TI to which a plate 12is cemented or otherwise secured, this plate having an upstandingelevating arm 11. A canvas covering 18 surrounds the bag 61 in the usualway in devices of this kind, said canvas covering having suitable flapsor streamers I9, 80 and 8| which are adapted to be wrapped around thearm or leg to hold the same tightly against the arm when the device isin use so that the movements of the pulse may be transmitted to the airwithin the bag 61. In order to secure desirable results it is necessaryto pump up the bag and then close the valve 69 so that there will be noleakage of air. Consequently the action of the pulse will be readilyrecorded. A reinforcing ring 82 is arranged within the dome 10 and anencircling frame 83 arranged exteriorly and clamped in place by suitablescrews 84 extending through the extensions 85 which are connectedtogether to form the substantially tubular end 86 in which theinsulating post 81 is placed, said post being held to the plate 88 by asuitable screw 89. Plate 88 is preferably of metal though it might be ofother material and rests fiatwise against the fabric casing 18 to whichit may be secured if desired by adhesive. A post or standard 89 isscrewed into the base plate 88 and carries a spool 99 of vitreous orother insulating material, which in turn carries a bracket 92 having apin 93 around which the end of the switch arm 22' fits. A spring 94 isheld in place by the screw 95 and continually acts to lower the switcharm 22'. A screw 96 acts to connect the wire 91 to the ring 9| so thatsaid wire is in continuous electrical communication with the switch arm22, and as this switch arm rests normally on the insulated post 8? nocurrent can flow. However, a metal contact 98 is carried by post 81 andto this contact is connected the wire 99, whereby when the switch arm22' is raised the upturned contact I will engage contact 98 and closethe circuit to this point. Wires 9'! and 99 form part of a circuitsimilar to that shown in Fig. 1 and are really equivalent to wires l4and ll of this circuit, so that when the contact I00 engages contact 98the electro-magnet M will be energized. Aside from.

the construction just described the action of thisform of the inventionis the same as that described in respect to Fig. 1, and consequentlywhen the parts have been properly adjusted and caused to function theX-ray device C will be caused to function. In the device shown in Fig. 4a spring 30 acts in a similar manner to spring 20 shown in Fig. 1, andthe nut 29' also acts as the nut 22 in Fig. 1, whereby the switch arm22' may be raised and lowered so as to be able to take a photograph ofthe heart at any stage of its expansion.

A further form of the device is shown in Figs. and 6. This is a similarconstruction but functions in the same manner as the contacts connectedup to wires l4 and I! so that the X-ray apparatus will operate in anidentical manner. However, instead of having the bag 36 or the bag 61 asshown in Figs. 2 and 4, a. cup of metal or other material lOi is used,and to this is secured an expansible dome I02. An adjustable standard )3is clamped by a set screw I04 to a suitable insulating post I05, wherebythe switch arm 22" may be adjusted as desired, the spring I06 acting tocause the contact end N31 to remain lowered so that it will rest on theinsulating post I03 normally. The contact I89 coacts with contact Iii?and is vertically adjustable by reason of the threaded support I II]which may be locked in any desired adjusted position by the set screwIII. In this form of the invention, as Well as that shown in Fig. 4, andalso as well as that shown in Fig. 1, the same inventive concept ispresent, namely, using power from the pulse to close a circuit at acertain time in respect to the various phases of the heart action.Heretofore in taking photographs of the heart the patient was exposed tothe X-ray apparatus and a photographic plate, but the operator neverknew just what phase of the heart action, was being taken, andconsequently merely showed the heart fully expanded in one picture,contracted or even half expanded in the others. If a photograph is takenat one time with the heart contracted and a year later with the heartexpanded, it might appear as if the heart had been enlarged. Under thepresent circumstances this would not be the case.

By providing means for closing the circuit at any phase of the heartbeat so as to instantly take a photograph of the heat at that phase, thephysician may readily compare photographs taken at diiferent times andthereby learn whether or not the heart has become enlarged. It will beunderstood that if the photograph taken at an earlier date was takenwith the heart fully expanded, a later photograph should be taken at thesame phase of the heart in order to secure a proper comparison. As onemethod of comparison it is desirable to take a photograph of the heat atits full contraction, a second photograph at its full expansion, and athird photograph at half expansion. With these three photographs takenat a given time, and a similar three taken at a later date, an accuratecomparison of the enlargement of the heart may be secured andconsequently proper treatment may be prescribed, if treatment isnecessary.

I claim:

1. A pulse actuated switch, including a switch arm, means for normallyholding the switch arm in an open position, a reciprocating arm adaptedto engage and move said switch arm to closed position, a pneumatic bagadapted to be placed around part of the body of a person, means forclamping the bag against the person so that the impulses of the pulsewill vary the density of the air in the bag, said bag having a resilientdome adapted to become enlarged as the density of the air in the bagincreases, and means for connecting said reciprocating arm to said domewhereby said reciprocating arm is moved back and forth as the dome isactuated.

2. A device of the character described, including an air bag, sealedthroughout and formed to. be wrapped around the arm, leg or other partof a person, a stiff covering frame in a plurality of parts and hingedlyconnected together, said covering fitting over said bag, means acting onthe covering for constricting the same and pressing the bag against thearm, leg or other part of the body to which it is applied, whereby thepulse will communicate movement to the interior of the bag and vary thedensity of the air therein, an elevating arm connected with said bag andreciprocated thereby as the density of air therein varies, a contact, aswitch arm positioned to be moved into engagement with said contact,said elevating arm being positioned to engage and move said arm intoengagement with said contact when the bag is distended to a certainextent, and a spring for moving said switch arm away or from saidcontact when said bag is deflated to a certain extent.

3. A device of the character described, including a completely sealedbag provided with air under pressure, said bag having a dome, a portionof the dome being free to expand and contract as the density of the airin the bag varies, means for clamping the bag tightly against the arm orleg of the person, a member secured to the top of said dome and causedto reciprocate as the dome moves under the action of the variation indensity of the air as the pulse functions, a plvotally mounted switcharm positioned to be engaged by said reciprocating member so as to bemoved in one direction thereby, means for moving said arm in theopposite direction, and an adjustable member for varying the pivotalpoint of said arm in respect to said reciprocating member so as to causethe reciprocating member to actuate said switch arm at any desired stageof the action of said pulse.

4. A device of the character described, including a bag, means forproviding air under pressure in said bag, said bag being provided with adome having stiff sides and a flexible top adapted to expand andcontract as the air in the bag varies in density, a stifi memberconnected to the center of the top of the dome, said stiff member beingadapted to reciprocate as the dome pulsates, a pivotally mounted switcharm, a sliding member for supporting said switch arm, a spring acting onsaid sliding member to move the switch arm away from the stiff membercarried by said dome, and a screw acting on said reciprocating member inthe opposite direction to said spring whereby the switch arm may bevaried in its position in respect to said dome so as to cause the switcharm to be closed upon the first movement of the dome, the last movementthereof, or any intermediate part of the movement thereof.

FRANK LIBERSON.

